In today's world, Visvedevas is an issue that has become increasingly relevant and prominent in society. Over time, Visvedevas has managed to capture the attention and interest of a wide spectrum of people, who see in this topic the opportunity to explore new ideas, debate opinions and share experiences. From different perspectives and approaches, Visvedevas has proven to be a meeting point for diversity of thoughts and visions, promoting dialogue and mutual enrichment. In this context, it is essential to address Visvedevas in a more profound and reflective way, in order to understand its influence on our daily lives and the world around us.
The visvedevas (Sanskrit: विश्वेदेव, IAST: Viśvēdēva) refers to the designation used to address the entirety of the various deities featured in the Vedas. It also refers to a specific classification of deities in the Puranas. The visvedevas are sometimes regarded as the most comprehensive gathering of the gods, a classification in which no deity is stated to be omitted.
In the Rigveda a number of hymns are addressed to these deities, including (according to Griffith): 1.3, 1.89, 3.54-56, 4.55, 5.41-51, 6.49-52, 7.34-37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 8.27-30, 58, 83 10.31, 35, 36, 56, 57, 61-66, 92, 93, 100, 101, 109, 114, 126, 128, 137, 141, 157, 165, 181.
RV 3.54.17 addresses them as headed by Indra:
The dichotomy between devas is not evident in these hymns, and the devas are invoked together such as Mitra and Varuna. Though many devas are named in the Rigveda, only 33 devas are counted, eleven of them present each in earth, space, and heaven.
According to Manu (iii, 90, 121), offerings should be made daily to the visvedevas. These privileges were bestowed on them by Brahma and the Pitri as a reward for severe austerities they had performed on the Himalayas.
In later Hinduism, the visvedevas form one of the nine ganadevatas (along with the adityas, vasus, tushitas, abhasvaras, anilas, maharajikas, sadhyas, and rudras). According to the Vishnu Purana and Padma Purana, they were the sons of Vishvā, a daughter of Daksha, described as follows:
The visvedevas are described to have incarnated on earth due to the curse of sage Vishvamitra, as the five sons of Draupadi with the Pandavas - the Upapandavas. They are described to have returned to their original forms after being killed by Ashvatthama at night.